Courtyard House: Starting as an eighth-grade worker, with too many wives.

Li Jianguo smiled and stepped forward, trying to break the ice in the atmosphere that was almost frozen.

"Look at me, I'm perfectly fine. That assassin was the one who had the worst luck and was seriously injured, but I'm completely unharmed."

"Stop grinning at me!"

Old Zhou turned around, raised his hand, and tapped him on the forehead. The force was not light, carrying both the anger of an elder and the lingering fear he couldn't hide.

"You're lucky! You're just blessed with good fortune! If you had been even a fraction less lucky, don't you know what the consequences would have been?!"

Li Jianguo touched his forehead, smiled sheepishly, and dared not say another word.

Old Zhou turned his head again and looked at the group of people behind him who were silent as cicadas in fear. His gaze was piercing.

"Don't ignore what I'm saying. This is the capital, right under the emperor's nose. Such a heinous crime has occurred; you really should reflect on this."

Everyone lowered their heads, and there was complete silence.

Old Zhou didn't continue his reprimand. He simply gave them a deep look. The weight in that look was more suffocating than any scolding.

The atmosphere was so oppressive it was almost frozen.

The tension only began to ease as the group moved into the cafeteria.

-

Siheyuan.

The room of the deaf old woman was terribly dark. The windows were covered with old newspapers, so the light that came in was a murky yellow, falling on the old furniture and the bed that smelled of decay.

The air was filled with a damp smell, like the kind you'd find in a cellar.

Sha Zhu knelt on the ground, held tightly in the arms of the deaf old woman. Her hands, as dry as old tree bark, slowly stroked from the top of his head down his back, touching the bones that were painful to the touch; he was so thin it was heartbreaking.

"My silly Zhu..."

The deaf old woman's voice was terribly hoarse, as if a wad of tattered cotton was stuck in her throat. Tears rolled down her wrinkled face, one after another, landing on Sha Zhu's hair.

"You've suffered so much, your life is so miserable..."

Sha Zhu knelt on her lap, his shoulders heaving violently. Suppressed sobs escaped his throat, like the whimpers of a wounded wild animal.

When he looked up and his gaze fell on the deaf old woman's empty trouser leg, he froze, as if struck by lightning.

Below the trouser leg, there was nothing there. The severed limb was exposed, the wound not yet fully healed, the skin and flesh at the edges rolled back, a sight that sent chills down one's spine.

"Your legs... how come..."

"It's all because of that little bastard Li Jianguo!"

A deep-seated hatred instantly erupted in the deaf old woman's eyes. Her cloudy eyes, at this moment, were like poisoned hooks, as if they wanted to fly out of their sockets and bite someone.

"Li Jianguo!"

Sha Zhu gritted his teeth and squeezed out the name. Each word was laced with blood, as if he wanted to chew the three words up and swallow them whole.

The two exchanged a glance.

The hatred was so real that it almost set the dimly lit little house ablaze.

"I must kill him!"

Sha Zhu's eyes were bloodshot, filled with murderous intent. He was like a wild beast on the verge of losing control, ready to pounce and bite off his prey's throat at any moment.

Yi Zhonghai watched from the side, his heart skipping a beat. He had no doubt that if Li Jianguo were standing in front of him right now, Sha Zhu would pounce on him without hesitation and tear him to pieces with his teeth.

"Don't rush."

The deaf old woman suddenly spoke. Her voice was eerie, like a wind blowing from the depths of the earth, carrying the chill of a grave.

"He won't have a good ending."

The grandmother and grandson both wore identical sinister expressions.

Anyone who saw them would not doubt that they shared the same bloodline—the kind of blood that is insidious, obsessive, and relentless in achieving its goals.

The deaf old woman stared at Sha Zhu. Her gaze was like that of someone finally seeing a lamp in boundless darkness.

She had waited too long.

The orders from above had been issued, and the task hung in the balance. But how could she, a disabled woman, who could barely move, possibly complete it?

Now, the light has come.

"Silly Zhu, I know you want revenge."

She lowered her voice, her tone carrying an inexplicable allure.

"I'd like to too. Now, I have a plan; it's up to you whether you dare to do it."

Yi Zhonghai felt a chill run down his spine when he saw the familiar expression on the deaf old woman's face.

He recognized that expression all too well—it was exactly the same look they had when they lured him into joining. Every wrinkle on that face held a calculating edge.

He remained silent and did not speak.

He also hoped that Li Jianguo would die.

As for who does it and how they do it, it doesn't matter.

"Of course I dare!"

Sha Zhu's voice was almost a shout, and the veins on his neck were bulging.

"I want to skin him alive and tear him apart!"

"good!"

The deaf old woman slammed her hand on the bed. The withered hand produced a muffled thud that echoed in the dim room.

"With your words, I can rest assured, old lady."

She leaned closer to Sha Zhu, lowering her voice even further. The sound, coming from her chapped lips, hissed like a viper flicking its tongue, sending chills down one's spine.

"You've heard the news lately, haven't you? That little bastard's come up with some kind of engine again. Since this thing is so valuable, let's steal it and burn it. Losing something so important, we don't even need to lift a finger; the higher-ups will take his life."

Yi Zhonghai's eyes flashed.

He knew the deaf old woman was a spy. But at that moment, he still didn't speak up or stop her.

Sha Zhu paused for a moment, then frowned.

"Is stealing documents... even useful?"

"Of course it works!"

The deaf old woman sneered. The smile on her face, combined with her wrinkled features, was indescribably sinister.

"If you rush up and kill him now, everyone will know it was you. But if you steal the documents, something so important is lost. What will the higher-ups think? They'll accuse him of dereliction of duty, of inadequate supervision, even of embezzlement and collusion with foreign powers. At that point, will he even survive?"

Sha Zhu's eyes gradually brightened.

He had never thought of this method before.

"rest assured!"

He thumped his chest and made a solemn vow.

"I've been to his study before; there's absolutely no security there. If those documents were in his study, I could find them anytime!"

The deaf old woman laughed. That laugh was sinister and terrifying, like a demon crawling up from hell.

"However, I feel it's not enough."

Her eyes darted around, and another thought popped into her head. The thought, like a maggot crawling out of rotting flesh, was so disgusting it made her want to vomit, yet it was impossible to look away.

"Not enough?" Sha Zhu was taken aback, then became even more expectant.

"Let's add something to it."

The deaf old woman's voice was like frosted glass, harsh and cold.

"First, ruin his reputation, then arrest and execute him. Let everyone criticize him behind his back, so he won't even die in peace."

"What do you mean?! What should we do?!"

Sha Zhu was so excited that he was trembling all over.

The thought of ruining Li Jianguo, disgracing him, and having him scorned by everyone—just imagining it made him almost go crazy with excitement. That excitement surged from the bottom of his heart, overwhelming him like a tidal wave, making his whole body tremble slightly.

The deaf old woman smiled slightly. That smile was full of malice.

"The best way to deal with men is through a honey trap. Hasn't Qin Huairu always listened to you? She also hates Li Jianguo to the core. Her man is ruined, and she's disgraced too. Isn't the perfect candidate readily available?"

Sha Zhu's eyes widened instantly.

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

This idea is both insidious and brilliant.

"I know what to do!"

He stood up abruptly.

"I'm going to find her right now!"

"Go quickly!"

The deaf old woman trembled with excitement. Her withered body shook on the bed like a dead leaf in the wind. She could already see Li Jianguo's disgrace and miserable end, despised by everyone—the image appeared in her mind, so clear as if it were real.

-

Qin Huairu had just been released from the police station.

The factory's punishment hasn't been announced yet, so she can only stay at home. Her hair is messy and disheveled, and her eyes are red-rimmed, clearly from crying.

Sha Zhu entered the Jia family home with light steps.

When Madam Jia opened the door and saw it was him, her face immediately turned as long as a donkey's.

"What are you doing here?! Haven't you ruined my daughter-in-law's life enough?!"

"I need to speak with her."

Sha Zhu was too lazy to argue with the old woman and looked directly into the inner room.

Qin Huairu put the child down and came out. There were several fresh, red, swollen scratches on her neck, quite glaring. It was clearly the work of Jia Zhangshi—that old woman never showed any mercy.

Sha Zhu felt a pang of heartache. But only for a moment.

He suppressed the urge to stand up for her. Business was more important.

"I have a plan to deal with Li Jianguo."

He stared into Qin Huairu's eyes.

"I need your help."

Before the words were even finished, not only Qin Huairu's eyes lit up, but even Jia Zhangshi seemed to have been injected with chicken blood and rushed over.

"What plan?! Tell me now!"

Li Jianguo and the Jia family were sworn enemies, their blood ties run deep. Jia Zhangshi dreamed of tearing him apart and drinking his blood.

"I want you to seduce him."

Sha Zhu spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Set him up in a honey trap, ruin his reputation, and ensure he can never recover."

Qin Huairu's excitement froze for a moment.

Honey trap...

This kind of thing hurts the enemy a thousand, but also hurts yourself eight hundred. If the man's reputation is ruined, the woman's reputation won't be much better.

"This...my reputation..."

She hesitated before speaking.

"Won't it sound bad?"

"Your reputation?"

Madam Jia laughed as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world. Her laughter was full of sarcasm and biting sarcasm, like a knife stabbing at the heart.

"Your underwear has already been delivered to someone else. Do you think you still have any reputation? It's completely rotten."

Qin Huairu's face instantly turned bright red. It was as if she had been slapped hard across the face, or as if she had been stripped naked in public.

She wanted to argue, but couldn't open her mouth.

Jia Zhangshi's words were like a rusty knife, stabbing her until she bled profusely, yet she couldn't refute them. Because they were true. Everyone in the entire courtyard knew about them.

"It's already like this, it can't get much worse."

Jia Zhangshi's tone was full of seduction and instigation.

"Maybe this commotion will actually bring you some benefits and help you save face?"

Qin Huairu bit her lip.

Her lips were bitten until they turned white and were almost bleeding.

Silent for a long time.

Finally, she nodded.

"Okay, I agree."

"good!"

Sha Zhu was overjoyed.

"Don't worry, we'll keep watch outside tonight. If there's any noise, we'll rush in. You won't get hurt!"

After he finished speaking, he left the Jia family impatiently. His steps were so light that he seemed to be flying.

For the entire afternoon, the courtyard was shrouded in an eerie silence.

Those who remained in the courtyard each harbored their own secrets, eagerly awaiting sunset and Li Jianguo's return.

-

Steel rolling mill.

Old Zhou stayed until the afternoon before leaving.

Factory Director Yang and Li Jianguo personally saw him off to the car and watched the black sedan disappear at the end of the street.

"Who are these two?"

Li Jianguo frowned slightly as he looked at the two burly men in front of him.

The two men were dressed in plain clothes and looked no different from ordinary people. But their eyes and their aura were undeniable. They exuded a sharp and piercing energy, clearly not people who were just sitting around doing nothing.

"To protect you secretly."

Factory Director Yang explained.

"The killer hasn't been caught yet. During this time, they will be responsible for your safety. Don't worry, they won't disturb your normal life."

Li Jianguo wanted to refuse.

With his current skills, ordinary people are no match for him.